Veteran South African Journalist Karima Brown Has Died

Veteran South African journalist, political commentator and activist, Karima Brown has passed away. Brown had previously been admitted to hospital after contracting COVID-19 and was undergoing treatment over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, she lost her battle with the disease earlier this morning. Tributes have been pouring in from media colleagues, friends, politicians and ordinary South Africans since news of Brown's death emerged.

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Brown had an expansive career as a journalist and worked as a broadcaster for 702, was the executive editor for the Independent Group, political editor at Business Day and more recently, the host for eNCA's The Fix, a weekly debating show featuring a wide variety of guests.

In a media statement released by Brown's family, they write:

"Karima was not just a prolific and well-known South African journalist and commentator, with deep footprints in print and broadcast media, but also and more importantly a well-loved friend, mentor, mother, colleague, daughter, and confidante to countless people throughout a life lived fully, and with deep commitment to her most cherished values and principles. We are enormously proud of the fierce determination she had shown, since her early years, to get involved in bringing about a more just, inclusive, and anti-racist South Africa."

Managing Director of eNCA, Norman Munzhelele, described Brown's impact on South Africa's media industry saying, "For a long time, Karima has been a robust voice in South Africa's media landscape. Her years of activism preceded this." Munzhelele poignantly added that, "Her death leaves a massive void for many."

According to Brown's family, she will be buried in a private Muslim ceremony and details around a public memorial service will be shared in due time.

Here are some of the tributes shared by those on social media.